Custer chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, Black Hills, D.T. [S.D.]) 1880-1890, 1887-10-15
The Cloud Dissolved.


a stampede to somewhat remote
region toward the setting sun, town
was born. This town, bearing name
revered by every living American
patriot, was the pioneer city of region
destined to become famous for it's sur
passing mineral wealth. The early
history Of this town was marked by
phenomenal growth. and great expecta-
tions of continued prosperity; and
every day added scores of buildings to
the aggregate, which had reached the
surprising number Of fourteen hundred,
when whisper came Of gold galore in
a distant locality to be had for the dig
ging, whereupon hegira to the newly
discovered mecca ensued, surpassing in
it's intensity and maddening features
that Of any incident Of its kind ever
occurring in the remote region referred
to. A half score was all that remained
of the seven thousand inhabitants of
the city at the close of the week follow
ing the announcement of the new dis
covery. The half score referred to, were
men who had an abiding faith in the
final prosperity of the city, which was
based upon the undeveloped mineral
| resources by which it was surrounded,
and the exceptional beauty and eligi-
bility of the townsite. The years rolled
on, and in the meantime the excitement
ran high in the new field, city of inn
posing proportions, and metropolitan
aspirations was built, and the pioneer
city was relegated to the shades of dire
| oblivion, which, Fever casually recalled,
was treated more as reminescence than
reality. Communication of every
kind was for the time cut Off Every
highway leading to the doomed city
was abandoned and the comforting
quaek Of the wild duck, which, like the
average resident of the new camp, gave
the place wide berth, was denied the
few who still clung with undying per-
tinacity to the town and their con-
victions. Years rolled on, and when
the fever Of excitement had, to some
extent, subsidized and the golden placers
| had become exhausted in the new
colorado, attention was turned in the
direction of the old field which still re-
mained unexplored, its hidden treasures
reposing untouched in their pristine
condition. So we'll settled had the con-
clusions of the people become, with
reference to the improbability Of there
being anything of value in the way of
mineral beyond the charmed limits of a
certain outlying belt, that reports Of
what afterward proved to be valuable
mineral discoveries were wholly dis.
| regarded, and met with the most posi-
tive expressions of derision and ridicule
on the part of the masses. We haye
now reached a period in the history of
this pioneer city, when, after having
passed through the mutations and
vicisstudes of the first twelve years of
her existence, the great problem which
had occupied the minds Of the few. who
confidently awaited its favorable soIu-
ton, has been fully and fairly demon
strated, and the hopes Of the few. and
fears Of the many have been confirmed.
The old camp, without the aid of
helping hand from any direction, but
on the contrary beset by opposition Of
the most unscrupulous and vindictive
character on all sides, the subject Of
vilest blackmail, crushing calumny, and
damnable defamation, rises pre-eminent
over all opposing elements, and wholly
upon her marvellous merits, marches to
the music of hammer and drill direct to
the glorious front.
Let us take perspective view of the
situation, as we see it FIVE years hence.
The shrill whistle of the locomotive,
blended with the ceasless rumble Of
reduction works and laundering reports
of mining blasts, wake the mountain
echoes and denote an era Of business
activity, never heretofore approached
in the wonderful region referred to.
The world will pause in wonder at the
magnitude of her mineral productions
England's supremacy will succumb to
its superior mineral advantages, and
abandon an industry which she has
controlled to our detriment for centuries.
Distant Deadwood will recognize and
rejoice in her advanced prestige, and
remote Rapid will have buried her
envy, and be righteously ready to clasp
hands across the dark divide. Palatial
mansions OH Cassiterite hill mark the
abode of men Of millions, whose bus-
ness interests, and desire to dwell in a
locality of enchanting beauty and un-
equalled healthfulness impel them to
remain. The drama is ended, and the
pioneer city, whose progress was so long
held in check, and retarded by influence,
too powerful for resistance, has at last
reached point in her eventful history
which gives ample assurance of her
reaching in the next five years the
climax of her commercial greatness.
| The name Of this soon to be popular
pioneer city is withheld for the reason